A new hope for housing: Nueva Esperanza opens in Hillsboro

Hope for accessible living is blossoming in Hillsboro with the introduction of 150 affordable homes.

Local leaders and nonprofit partners gathered on Friday, May 10, to celebrate the opening of Nueva Esperanza: a new housing community designed to meet the needs of farmworkers, Latinx families, Somali immigrant families and others.

Adjacent to Hidden Creek Park East, the new apartment community offers culturally-oriented amenities aimed at fostering connections. The kitchens are built to reflect Somali cultural practices around food preparation, and the complex’s buildings are organized into “colonias” — focused on developing distinct identities that bring neighbors together.

Nueva Esperanza, which translates to "new hope," will feature boot washing stations for agricultural workers, and Spanish speaking staff will be available to assist residents. The community also offers a playground, barbeques and a fenced dog park for families to enjoy.

The new housing community is the product of a $54 million project, with $16.9 million contributed as part of Metro’s affordable housing bond. Passed in 2018, the voter-approved measure committed to creating at least 3,900 affordable homes in the region, which has been surpassed with 4,660 homes currently in “some phase of production.” Nueva Esperanza is the 17th bond-funded property to open.

The city of Hillsboro donated six acres for the project, and nonprofit partners Bienestar and Housing Development Center developed the property.

“Esperanza, ‘hope,’ is more than just a name on these buildings,” Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González said in a media release. “Hope is foundational to this apartment community. The connection, and the safe and affordable housing that Nueva Esperanza provides will embolden the families who live here to dream — and it will create the space to act on those dreams — for many years to come.”

“Bienestar is grateful to the many partners who have made Nueva Esperanza possible,” Nathan Teske, Bienestar executive director, said. “These homes provide an enormous benefit to our community by ensuring families have a safe, stable place to thrive and reach their full potential. We are proud to provide this hope to hundreds of people, many of whom are immigrants who fled violence or persecution in their homelands.”

Over 100 of the apartments will offer two to four bedrooms, making Nueva Esperanza a place for families to call home. Units will be available to those earning 30% to 60% of the area median income, which is $33,840 to $67,680 for a family of four.

As part of Metro’s bond, funded homes must remain affordable for a minimum of 60 years.

“Nueva Esperanza is meeting a critical need for families in Hillsboro by building units with up to three and four bedrooms,” Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway said. “I’m proud of its intentional design that also incorporates cultural elements that meet workforce, family, and resident needs. It is truly a place designed for — and by — the community. Thanks to the incredible people and partners who worked so hard behind the scenes for years to bring this community vision to life.”